Created by Joe RubyKen Spears No. of episodes 16 Running time 0:15 (per episode) | Country of origin USA | |
Starring Deidre HallJudy StrangisNorman Alden | ||
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl is a Sid and Marty Krofft live action science fiction children's television series from 1976. The series aired 16 episodes in a single season as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow. During the second season, it was dropped, along with Dr. Shrinker. When later syndicated in the package "Krofft Super Stars" and released on home video, the 16 segments, which were each about 12 minutes long, were combined into eight episodes.
Contents
Premise
The program followed the crime-fighting exploits of female caped crusader Electra Woman (played by Deidre Hall) and her teen sidekick Dyna Girl (Judy Strangis), who worked in their off-time as reporters for Newsmaker Magazine (The full real names of the two were never revealed in any of the installments, although their first names were Lori and Judy, respectively.) In each episode, the duo would don skintight spandex in a bright flash of light called an "Electra-Change," get into the "ElectraCar," and use an array of technically advanced gadgets to thwart an eclectic collection of supervillains. They were assisted by Frank Heflin (Norman Alden), a scientist who stayed at their "ElectraBase," operating its highly sophisticated "CrimeScope" computer, a parody of the BatComputer, while keeping in continual contact with the pair through their "ElectraComs."
The ElectraComs
The ElectraComs were bulky wrist devices worn by the title characters. They could function as two-way radios with video capabilities; they served a variety of other specialized functions, which allowed the duo to escape various traps devised by their enemies. With the addition of special cartridge attachments, the ElectraComs were additionally seen to perform the following functions on the show:
The "ElectraEnemies" with their Henchmen and -women
Cast
Unaired television pilot
The WB Television Network commissioned a pilot for a new version of the show in 2001 starring Markie Post as Electra Woman and Anne Stedman as Dyna Girl. The new series was written in the form of a cynical parody of the original show – and the superhero genre in general. It was set 25 years after the original series, with a retired Electra Woman brought back into action by a fan who ends up becoming the new Dyna Girl.
The pilot portrayed Electra Woman as a disillusioned, bitter, sexually promiscuous alcoholic, much in contrast to the character's original portrayal. In the pilot, Electra Woman had been married and divorced since the end of the original series, her husband having left her for the original Dyna Girl. Although the pilot was shot, the series was not picked up.
The pilot omits the character of Frank Heflin, but includes an in-joke reference to Norman Alden, who had portrayed him in the original. The university's alumni function is attended by Aquaman, whose character voice Alden had provided on the Super Friends animated series.
Although the pilot never aired, it has been posted on YouTube and it tends to be included on fan-made "bootleg" compilations of the series.
Film Adaptation
On February 26, 2015, it was announced via various media outlets that YouTube personalities Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart would star in a reboot of the series. The series, produced by Tim Carter and Tomas Harlan through their Contradiction shingle, was directed by Chris Marrs Piliero and shot in Vancouver during February and March 2015.
On April 26, 2016, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2016 film) was digitally released by Fullscreen through its streaming platform as a series of eight 11-minute webisodes. It was released on all major platforms on June 7, 2016, by Legendary Digital Studios and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. A DVD version was released in late July 2016 through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.